Freedom
"Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.” -Albert Camus
Today, we celebrate the Philippines' 113th year of freedom. However, as we all know (or ought to know), the June 12 declaration of Philippine independence was quite premature, as there was still the American forces waiting in the wings at the time, and we only really gained our freedom on July 4, 1946, after the Second World War, after both Americans and Japanese managed to ravage our beloved country.
But that isn't the point.
The point is, years and years and years after we got our freedom BACK (and this I have to emphasize because we were originally a free country before Magellan ran into us), can we say that we used our years of freedom to become better?
If I answer this question with the cold, hard truth, I will sound like a cynic. Which I am not.
Not to say I'm sugar-coating my answer. The truth of it is, I honestly think that we haven't really used the decades of freedom as "a chance to be better". The same corrupt practices are happening, the same political dynasties are in place. Aren't these manifestations of how we've remained stagnant, or even deteriorated? We used to be one of the top countries in Asia economically, right up there with Japan and Singapore. But now... I don't even know what place we're in anymore.
But then again, who's to say that we should abandon all hope? What about the efforts of people like Efren Peñaflorida, Charice Pempengco, Manny Pacquiao, Danica Magpantay, Apl.de.ap, Nicole Scherzinger, the Azkals, and all those other people who excel in their field, put their passion into everything they do, and manage to put the Philippines on the map? I think this is a sign that indeed, we CAN use our freedom as a chance to become better.
During yesterday's mock recit/lecture, Ma'am Ursua said that the practice of Law requires the love of country. "Lawyers are the engines that keep society going," she said. Everything that lawyers do have a direct effect on the country.
"If you don't love your country," she warned, "then maybe you shouldn't be here."
It was the first time in months that I felt like I should be a lawyer.
But that's for me. It really doesn't matter what it is for you, as long as you do it with all your heart, and towards the betterment of the country. You're free to do what you want. You should take that chance to become better - not just for yourself, but for your family, for your friends, for the Philippines.
Maligayang araw ng kalayaan, mahal kong Pilipinas. :)
Today, we celebrate the Philippines' 113th year of freedom. However, as we all know (or ought to know), the June 12 declaration of Philippine independence was quite premature, as there was still the American forces waiting in the wings at the time, and we only really gained our freedom on July 4, 1946, after the Second World War, after both Americans and Japanese managed to ravage our beloved country.
But that isn't the point.
The point is, years and years and years after we got our freedom BACK (and this I have to emphasize because we were originally a free country before Magellan ran into us), can we say that we used our years of freedom to become better?
If I answer this question with the cold, hard truth, I will sound like a cynic. Which I am not.
Not to say I'm sugar-coating my answer. The truth of it is, I honestly think that we haven't really used the decades of freedom as "a chance to be better". The same corrupt practices are happening, the same political dynasties are in place. Aren't these manifestations of how we've remained stagnant, or even deteriorated? We used to be one of the top countries in Asia economically, right up there with Japan and Singapore. But now... I don't even know what place we're in anymore.
But then again, who's to say that we should abandon all hope? What about the efforts of people like Efren Peñaflorida, Charice Pempengco, Manny Pacquiao, Danica Magpantay, Apl.de.ap, Nicole Scherzinger, the Azkals, and all those other people who excel in their field, put their passion into everything they do, and manage to put the Philippines on the map? I think this is a sign that indeed, we CAN use our freedom as a chance to become better.
During yesterday's mock recit/lecture, Ma'am Ursua said that the practice of Law requires the love of country. "Lawyers are the engines that keep society going," she said. Everything that lawyers do have a direct effect on the country.
"If you don't love your country," she warned, "then maybe you shouldn't be here."
It was the first time in months that I felt like I should be a lawyer.
But that's for me. It really doesn't matter what it is for you, as long as you do it with all your heart, and towards the betterment of the country. You're free to do what you want. You should take that chance to become better - not just for yourself, but for your family, for your friends, for the Philippines.
Maligayang araw ng kalayaan, mahal kong Pilipinas. :)